Oral

An oral exam is a form of assessment in which you evaluate the student's performance and knowledge through oral communication. It is usually an oral examination consisting of an interview, either individually or in groups. In doing so, you ask questions about the subject you want to assess. This way, you test the student on their knowledge of the subject and also on communication skills. 

To give an oral exam you can do the following:

1. Set clear assessment criteria, such as knowledge, presentation skills, communication skills.
2. Draft the questions in advance and make sure they are relevant to the material presented.
3. Give students enough time to prepare.
4. Offer to record the test for further analysis.
5. Assess objectively and give constructive feedback to students.

Some examples:

• Language and literature studies - an oral examination where you question students about specific texts or a story they have to analyse.
• Law - a role-play where students reenact a court case and play the role of lawyer, judge or witness.
• Physics and astronomy - an individual discussion with the teacher where students are questioned about specific concepts and calculations.
• Art history - an oral defence of a thesis where students present and defend their research on a specific work of art.

There are also other ways to test students' knowledge and skills orally: a presentation on a topic related to the subject matter, a group discussion on a case study, for example, a role-play or an oral defence of a thesis or research report. 

Want to know more?

• Mondelinge toetsing: handleiding - Universiteit van Amsterdam
• Toetsvormen: mondelinge toets - Radboud Universiteit
• Mondeling tentamen op afstand - HanzeHogeschool Groningen

See also: Presentation, Defence.